As the annual parliamentary debate on the war began yesterday, the Prime Minister urged Pakistan to do more along its border with Afghanistan to curb terrorism and extremism, echoing US criticisms of Pakistan's links to the resurgent al-Haqqani network.

''It is time for Pakistan to do more to counter terrorism and extremism,'' Ms Gillard said. ''That is in the interests of Afghanistan, Australia, our coalition partners. It is in the interests of Pakistan itself.''

Australia has been in Afghanistan 10 years, during which 32 armed services personnel have been killed and 213 wounded.

Ms Gillard said that despite recent heavy casualties, Australia's national interest or its mission had not changed.

An Essential Media poll showed yesterday that 64 per cent of Australians think the troops should be withdrawn, but Ms Gillard urged the public to look beyond the tragedy, and extolled the mentoring, community work and counterinsurgency operations being undertaken.

''The moving and now sadly familiar images of ramp ceremonies overseas and funerals at home are a very real part of the story of war but they are not the whole story,'' she said. ''We owe it to our troops and to our nation to understand the whole.''

Ms Gillard said last year that Australia would withdraw its military forces by 2014 but would stay in the country for about 10 years providing humanitarian assistance.

Yesterday she said Australia's post-2014 role would have a national focus and not just be concentrated in Oruzgan.

There would be substantial development assistance and an AusAID presence, she said. There would also be ongoing military and police training.

Presently, Australia's main military role is to train and mentor the Afghan 4th Brigade. Ms Gillard said yesterday the brigade was on track to take the lead security role in Oruzgan province by 2014 or earlier.

But the special forces mission may extend beyond that.

She said the decision to withdraw special forces troops would be made following an assessment of the security situation and following discussions with the US and other allies.

''The government will keep under consideration a continued Australian special forces presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014,'' she said.

''We will take a firm line on our national interest that terrorism finds no safe haven in Afghanistan.''

Mr Abbott, who could be prime minister after 2013, supported this. ''Withdrawal dates can't be irrevocable … or the Taliban win by just waiting out the West,'' he said.

Mr Abbott agreed Australia must remain a reliable friend and partner of Afghanistan after 2014 and ''that may require contributing to Afghan security beyond 2014''.

Mr Abbott urged the government to allow Australian soldiers to detain terrorist suspects for longer periods because the troops complained suspects were being released and rejoining the fight.